Apparatus for producing reinforced sheet material



" A. CARLSON ET A1.

Jan. 18, 1955 APPARATUS FOR `PRODUCING REINFORCED SHEET MATERIA FiledAug. 14, 195o A 2 Shee'ts-sheet 1 Jan. 18, 1955 A. E. CARLSON ET AL2,699,313

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING REINFORCED SHEET MATERIAL Filed Aug. 14, 1950 2Sheets-Sheet 2 @www TMF/424 Trae/vw;

United States Patent-O APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING REINFORCED SHEET`MATERIAL Arthur E. Carlson, Troy, and Joe Baxter, Jr., Franklin, Ohio;said Baxter, Jr., assignor to Carlson Application August 14, 1950,Serial No. 179,302 Claims. (Cl. 154-1.76)

This invention relates to apparatus for producing reinforced sheetmaterial.

ln the manufacture of sheet material wherein strength is essential, theitem of cost is very important, especially in some industries, for thereason that huge quantities of such material is used. For example, inthe manufacture of cartons made from corrugated paper, cardboard and thelike, tape isused for holdingthe seams together. On some types ofcartons, woven material hav ing a suitable adhesive applied to one sidethereof is used for overlapping the seams and retaining the parts inposition. This material is expensive. In lighter weight cartons andboxes, paper having applied thereto an adhesive material, is used forsecuring the parts together. If a light weight paper is used, there isdanger of failure. For many purposes the light weight paper is apt to beinadequate, in which event it is necessary to resort to either a wovenfabric or a heavy weight paper having the desired strength. In eithercase, the cost becomes a very important item.

in Carlsons copendingapplications for United States Letters Patent,Serial No. 109,482, led August l0, 1949, for Reenforced Paper Articles,now U. S. Patent No. 2,610,936, and Serial No. 140,532, filed January25, 1950, for Reinforced Sheet Material, Apparatus for and Method ofProducing the Same, now abandoned, a reinforced sheet material has beendisclosed for use in the manufacture of boxes, cartons, crates and otheruses to which the reinforced sheet material is suitable.

An object of this invention is to provide apparatus for producing thereinforced sheet material disclosed in the aforementioned applicationsfor United States Letters Patent.

Another object of thisinvention is to produce an ap paratus for layingreinforcing ribbons or elements in equally spaced parallel relationtransversely across a sheet of material, or rather, a pair of sheets ofmaterial, the apparatus being provided with mechanism which permitscontraction of the reinforcing elements after they have been placed inposition without the reinforcing elements being shorter sheet material.

Another object of this invention is` to feed strip material continuouslythrough a device for laying the re inforcing elements in position, thereinforcing elements being placed transversely across the sheet inequally spaced relation.

Another object of this invention is to provide rotatably mountedsupports for bobbins, said bobbins being equally spaced circumferentialyabout the supports. The supports are divisible into two halves, so as topermit removal of one support for the bobbins when emptied, to bereplaced by another like support provided with lilled bobbins, so as topermit the use of the devicefor laying the ribbons in position while onesupport is being reloaded with lled robbins.

Another object of thisinvention is to provide a device for placingreinforcing elements upon the surface `of sheet material wherein thereinforcingelements are applied from a plurality of bobbins mounted forrotation about the sheet of material, the reinforcing elements uponleaving the bobbins being passed through a stationary pot of adhesivematerial to thereby supply adhesive material to the reinforcing elementsbefore the reinforcing elements `come into contact with the sheetmaterial.

Other objects and advantages reside in the construction of parts, theccmbinationthereof `and the mode of after contraction than the width ofthe A toothed gear member 69, driven by a pinion d?. keyed to` 2,699,813Patented Jan. 18, 1955 operation, as will become more apparent from thefollowing description.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure l is a top plan view of the device for laying the reinforcingelements in position, showing the mandrel in cross section.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary, enlarged View of a portion of the devicedisclosed in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of a device for ing the reinforcingelements in position.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4of Figure l.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view of a tensioning mechanism, partly incross section.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of a fragment of Fig. 4.

The device for manufacturing the reinforced tape includes paperunreeling mechanism, sheet material sup-` porting mandrel and ribbonapplying or wrapping mechanism. Each ofthese will now be described.

Unreeling mechanism The unreeling mechanism includes a pair of rollsupporting devices 20, each provided with. diagonally disposed slots 22adapted to receive arbors 24 extending through the rolls 26 of paper orotherI sheet material. The rolls 26 of sheet material are supported uponthe arbors 24 adapted for sliding and rotating movement in the slots 22.The `rolls of paper are also supported upon a pair of feed rollers 30driven through a suitable gear mechanism by a shaft 32 from a motor 34through a suitable speed reducing mechanism 36. Two rollers 30 aremounted in close proximity to each other, so that as the sheet materialis unwound from the rolls 26, the sheet material passes over the rollers3h and betweenthe rollers so as to be fed downwardly through a slotprovided therefor in a support 3S, which may represent a floor or anyothersuitable support, supported in any suitable manner. Due to the factthat the sheet material is quite wide, for example on the order of fourfeet, the support 3S must be located a considerable distance above theribbon applying mechanism, in order to cause the sheet material tobeformed into the proper curvature thatbtakes place upon a mandrel,which `will now be descri e lay- Sheet material t supporting mandrel Thesheet material supporting mandrel d1 consists of a pair of curved platemembers 40, securedrtogether along the margins 42, portion 44. Themandrel is supported by tl-brackets 46 attached to a support 38. Afterthe sheet material Sti passes between the rollers 30, the two sheets areseparated so that one is located on one side of the mandrel 41 and theother is located on the opposite side of the mandrel. As the sheets 50advance over the mandrel., they eventually are curved, so as to have acurvature corresponding to thecurvature of the mandrel. The width of thesheet is slightly less than the width of the mandrel, for reasons thatwill appear more fully later. This difference between the width of thesheets and thewidth of the mandrel is best seen in Figure l. The mandrel4l, together with the sheets of material to be reinforced, extendsdownwardly through a ribbon applying or wrapping mechamsm.

Ribbon applying 01' wrapping mechanism The ribbon applying mechanismincludes an internally a shaft 64 projecting upwardly from a 66 drivenfrom an electric motor 68. has tixedly attached thereto a ring 70 bymeans of a plurality of bolts 72. The ring 70 is provided with anannular bevelled surface 74, forming a race .resting upon a plurality ofconical rollers or bearings 76 journalled upon a shaft 78, mounted in abracket 8l) resting upon the support or oor 82. At least three or moreof these roller bearings are required to support the internally toothedgear member 60 and the ring 7u. The ring lil is provided with an annularchannel 84 adapted to support a pair of semi-circular bobbin supportingmembers 86. The two halves forming the bobbin supporting ring lare heldtogether by suitable bolts @E extending gear reducing box The gearmember and terminates in a substantially pointed across the seam 89between the two members 86. Each member 86 supports a plurality ofdiagonally disposed spindles 90 and 92, the spindles 90 extendingthrough suitable apertures in the annular inclined portion 94 of member86. The spindles 92 extend through suitable apertures in the annularinclined portion 96 of member 86. Each of thespindles 90 and 92 supportsa spool or bobbin 100 containing ribbons or reinforcing elements 101.Each of these reinforcing elements consist of a plurality of filamentsthat may be made from synthetic material, such as rayon or nylon.

The device may Ybe used for producing the reinforced sheet materialdisclosed in the aforementioned copending applications for United StatesLetters Patent Serial No. 109,482, tiled August l0, 1949, for ReinforcedPaper Articles, and Serial No. 140,532, tiled January 25, 1950, forReinforced Sheet Material, Apparatus for and Method of Producing theSame. The material wound upon the spoolsY or bobbins need notnecessarily consist of the reinforcing elements described above; but mayconsist of any other type of reinforcing members for use in reinforcingthe sheet material, as for example, cord, string or other types ofribbon-like material, as the particular type of reinforcing'elements isimmaterial as far as the operation of this device is concerned. Thesemi-cylindrical supporting members 86 are mounted in the channel 84 andclamped into position by a clamping member 102, tightened in position bybolts 104 having a wrenchV engaging portion 106, mounted on the outerperiphery of the annular ring 70.

An inwardly directed semi-annular flange on each member 86 supports aplurality of resiliently mounted tensioning arms 122 and 124, the arms122 being used in connection with the reinforcing elements 101 withdrawn from the bobbins 100 mounted on the spindles 90 and the arms 124being used in connection with the reinforcing elements withdrawn fromthe other series of bobbins.

Bosses mounted upon each member 86 have rotatably mounted therein aflexible shaft 132, there being one liexible shaft for each of thesemi-circular members 86. This flexible shaft may be made from resilientmaterial such as rubber or any other suitable material. The liexibleshaft may be rotated through an angle of 45 more or less. A plurality ofarms l134, one for each of the bosses 130, are each provided with abifurcated end 136, each furcation being provided with an aperturethrough which the flexible shaft 132 passes. The furcations straddle thebosses 130 and are iixedly attached to the flexible shaft 132. By thisarrangement, it is possible to adjust the angular position of the arms134 by merely rotating the flexible shaft 132.

Y The outer end of each arm 134 has iixedly attached thereto a curvedarm 140, provided with an eye 142 and a secondreye 144 through which thereinforcing elements 101 pass, there being one reinforcing element foreach arm 134. When the arms 134 are actuated into the position shown tothe left of Figure 4, the eyes 142 and 144 are located in a toroidalglue pot 150, iixedly mounted so as to remain stationaryI when themachine is in use. The glue pot is generated by a vsubstantiallyC-shaped generatrix traveling through a circular path. The C is slightlytilted, so that one edge of the opening of thel glue pot is locatedsubstantially above the center of the glue pot and the other edge downyfrom the center on the inner side of the glue pot to provide an annularopening 152.

As may best Vbe seen by referring to Figure 4, the' glue are rotated,the adhesive material in the glue pot will also tend to rotate and, dueto the centrifugal force of a rotating body, will tend to moveoutwardly. That being the case, the mouth 152 is angularly disposed soas to provide a lip 153, preventing the adhesive from flowlng over theedge of the Vglue pot 150. Glue pot is -mounted upon stationary supports154 for securing the Vpot 150 has been so designed that as the arms 134and elements cause the sheet material to be pressed against the mandrel,thereby causingthe sheet material to have the same curvature as theunderlying contour of the mandrel. The reinforcing elements passingthrough the adhesive material in the glue pot 150 are coated withadhesive material. As a matter of fact, the adhesive material ispreferably of such a consistency that the adhesive material is drawn byYcapillary attraction between the interstices between the lamentsconstituting each reinforcing element. The operation continues until itis necessary to stopy the machine, either to replenish the supply ofpaper or'to replenish the exhausted supply of reinforcing elements onthe bobbins. V.When the bobbins supported upon the members 86 areexhausted, a like member 86a,v (only one of which has been shown) loadedwith a new supply of bobbins, may be substituted for the members 86supporting the exhausted bobbins. In order to maintain balance, theamount of material on the bobbins on one member 86 should besubstantially equalto the supply of material on the bobbins on the othermember 86. Y

Upon stopping the machine, it is desirable to first rotate the flexibleshaft 132 through an angle suiiicient to actuate the arms 134 and theparts carried thereby from Y the position shown to the left of Figure 4to that shown to the right of Figure 4, so as to cause these parts toclear the glue pot. As a matter of fact, whenever stopping the machine,it is desirable to remove these parts from the glue pot so as to removethe reinforcing elements out of contact with the glue pot. Otherwise,the reinforcing elements resting upon the edge of the glue pot willadhere to the edge thereof. After the reinforcing elements have beenremoved from the glue pot, it is merely necessary to remove the bolts 88and loosen the bolts or screws 104 to release the clamping members 102from the members 86 that are to be removed. yThen, by lowering the rails114 carried upon a truck 110 and moving the truck towards the center ofthe machine, so as to cause the rails 114 to be positioned under one ofthe members 86 that is to be removed, this member may be raised by meansof the jack 112, the truck removed, the rails rotated through an angleof so as to substitute member 86a having a fresh supply of bobbinsthereon in position. This operation is then repeated for the othermember 86. The new members are clamped in position by tightening thebolts 104 so as to cause the clamps 102 to securely lock members 86 inposition and by inserting the bolts 88 so as to clamp the newlysubstituted members 86a to each other. The ends of the reinforcingelements are then secured to the ends severed from the exhaustedbobbins, after which the iiexible shafts are rotated so as to again dipthe reinforcing elementsV into the glue pot. Instead of securing theends of the new bobbins to the ends from the old bobbins, it mayexpedite matters to merely secure the ends from the new bobbins in anysuitable manner to initiate the wrapping operation. The machine is thenready to be started again to continue the operation.

Member 156 is supported upon a drainage tube 160 and upon a refill tube162, the upper end of which communicates with the annular glue pot 150.The adhesive that drains into the overiiow reservoir 156 is drainedfromthis overow reservoir through the drainage tube or conduit 160. Theadhesive in the glue pot is replenished from a suitable source, notshown, through the reiill tube or conduit 162.

VWhen the flexible shaft 132 is in the position shown to the left inFigure 4, the reinforcing elements are pulled through the eyes 142 and144, so as to be drawn through the adhesive in the glue vpot 150, thereinforcing elements upon leaving the glue pot being wrapped around thesheets of material passing over the mandrel 41. In Figure l there areapproximately y48 bobbins, in other words, there are 48 sources ofreinforcing elements.` That being the case, 48 elements are wrappedaround the sheet material for every revolution of the bobbins about themandrel. If, for example, three reinforcing elements arel desired forevery inch of sheet material, the sheet material would then be requiredto advance sixteen inches downwardly over the mandrel for everyrevolution of the bobbins about the mandrel. If six ribbons are requiredper inch, then the sheet material would only advance eight inches forevery revolution of the bobbins.

Rather than to change `the relative speed of the sheet .mirlal and therotary support for the bobbins, the spacing of the reinforcing elementsmay be changqd byreducing or increasing thenumber of bobbins. Ifuforexample, it is found desirable to provide reinforcedisheet material withonly half as many reinforcing elements, in -other words, the reinforcingelements being spacedtwice as far apart, the number of bobbins could bereduced in half; but in reducing the number of bobbins, the fact shouldnot be overlooked that the reduction should be so made as to maintainbalance. The bobbins are preferably diametrically disposed, so as ltomaintain balance. That being the case, it maybe desirableto providemembers 86 with additional apertures so that instead of making provisionfor 48 bobbins, provision may be made for 32 bobbins, or any othersuitable Anumber, depending uponthe requirements of the finished sheetmaterial.

When using synthetic reinforcing elements `or ribbons, it is acharacteristic of some material, such as rayon for example, to shrinkafter being applied to the surface of the sheet material, This shrinkageis caused by moisture in the adhesive applied-to the reinforcingelements. In order that the reinforcing elements shall extend from oneedge of the sheet material to the-opposite edge of the sheet material,it is necessary to provide reinforcing elements that are longer than thewidth of the sheet material. By providing a mandrel that has a widthgreater than the width of the sheet material, the reinforcing elementswill then extend over the edges of the mandrel beyond the sheetmaterial. Furthermore, the reinforcing elements, upon being wrappedaround the sheet material and the mandrel, are integral. That being thecase, a pair of rotary cutting discs 17) shown in Figures 3 and 4 anddriven by a motor 72 are used in cutting the `reinforcing elements so asto sever the reinforcing elements extending from one sheet to the other.Upon the reinforcing elements being cut, the reinforcing elements arepermitted to shrink without wrinkling or crumpling the sheet material.The sheet material upon being reinforced, may be subjected to a curingoperation for the` adhesive, followed by winding the reinforced sheetmaterial into rolls.

By using a Hat or oval shapedmandrel, as shown in Figure l, and rotatingthe bobbins at a uniform speed around th -r andrei, it can readily beseen that the demand for reinforcing elements at the wrapping stationvaries. At times the rate of speed of the reinforcing elements will bevery great and at other times the rate of speed of the wrapping elementsat the wrapping station will be very low. This will result in anirregular withdrawal of reinforcing elements from the bobbins, which mayresult in a whipping action taking place, followed bya tendency tinueunraveiing, so as to snarl during the/period that the demand at thewrapping position is decelerating. This may taire piace in the absenceof some type of device for compensating for irregular demand at` thewrapping station, which compensating device will now be described.

ln .Figure 5 an attachment adapted for use with the preferred embodimenthas been shown. Members 36 may have the portion 9d or 96 provided `withtubular members 29d, each having a flange 292 abutting one side of theportions 9d or @6, as the case may be, and held in position by a nut2li-4 threadedly engaging the end of tubular member 26u. 'The upwardlydirected portion 206 of tubular member 2li@ is tapered and` supports abobbin lllfi. The upper end of the tapering `portion 206 is providedwith an inwardly directed flange 208, leaving an aperture in the center.A rod 216 extends `through the tubular member 2li@ and terminates in aneye212,` through which the reinforcing element liil is drawn from thebobbin ltltl. The rod 2l() is mounted forreciprocal movement axiallywith respect to the tubular support. The end of the rod Zlil oppositethe eye 212 is attached to a yolze 21drotatably supporting a camfollower 216 mounted for engagement with a stationary circular cam 218exte ding around the wrapping machine. A compression spring 22d, havingone end seated against the flange 26S and the opposite end abutting theyoke 214, is used in biasing the cam follower 216 into engagement withthe cam 2id.

It can readily be seen that by this arrangement the J reinforcingelements may be withdrawn from the bobbin ata uniform rate of speed, inspite of the fact that the demand for reinforcing elements at thewrapping position is irregular, due to the shape of the mandrel. Byproperly designing the cam 218, which-has `merely 4been for thereinforcing elements to conshown schematically and only a portion of it,it can readily-be seen .that as the demandi'forrreinforcing `elementsslows up at the wrapping station, the lcam 218 projects the rod 210upwardly so as to continue to withdraw the yarn at a uniform speed fromthe bobbin andthen as the demand at the wrapping station increases, thecam is so designed that the cam follower allows the compression spring220 to move the eye 212 towards the bobbin into the dotted positionshown in Figure 5, thereby compensating for the increased demand at thewrapping station.

Reference is made to the copendingapplication of Arthur E. Carlson,Serial No. 178,434, tiled August 9, 1950, and showing related subjectmatter.

Although the preferred embodiment of the device has been described, itwill be understood that within the purview of this invention variouschanges may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement ofparts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generallystated consist in a device capable of carrying out the objects setforth, as disclosed and delined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

l. A toroidal glue pot having an annular opening in the inner side nearthe top thereof, a toroidal overflow reservoir, having a similar annularopening also in the inner side near the top thereof, and meanssupporting said glue pot within said reservoir and with said annularopenings in substantial alignment.

2. The combination of a toroidal glue pot for use in a device forreinforcing sheet materialwith a toroidal reservoir, said glue pothaving an annular opening eX- tending throughout the circumference inthe inner side near the top thereof, said reservoir being larger thanthe glue pot so as to encircle the greater portion of the glue pot andhaving a similar annular opening also in the inner side and near the topthereof, and means supporting said glue pot within said reservoir withsaid openings in substantial alignment to cause overflow from said gluepot to be received within said reservoir.

3. A circular supportassembly for use in a device for reinforcing sheetmaterial, said assembly including an annular gear ring, a circularmember` iixedly attached to the gear ring, said circular member having acircular channel, and a pair of bobbin supporting semi-circular membersremovably secured to said channel, one of said semi-circular membersbeing removable independently of the other semi-circular member so as topermit the removal of one semi-circularvmember for replacement with alike semi-circular member loaded with a fresh supply of bobbins.

4. A circular support assembly for use in a device for reinforcing sheetmaterial, said assembly including an annular gear ring, a pair of bobbinsupporting semi-circular members, means for removably attaching saidsemicircular members to the gear ring, one of said semi-circular membersbeing removable independently of the other so as to permit the removalof one semi-circular member when the supply on the bobbins` isexhausted` for replacement with a like semi-circular member loaded witha fresh supply of bobbins.

5. In a device for use in reinforcing sheet material, said device havinga rotatable support provided with a plurality of members for supportingbobbins containing reinforcing elements, the combination including anon-circular mandrel for feeding the sheet material past a station forapplying the-reinforcing elements to the sheet material, and means forwithdrawing the reinforcing elements from the bobbins at a uniform rateof speed and wrapping the reinforcing elements upon the sheet materialat anirregular rate of speed, said means including a plurality ofmovable members each having an eyethrough which a reinforcing elementpasses, `said eye members having movement such as to change the lengthof the paths of the reinforcing elements between the bobbins and thesheet material to thereby cause the reinforcing elements to be withdrawnfrom the bobbins at a substantially uniform speed.

6. ln a device for use in reinforcing sheet material, said device havinga rotatable support provided with a plurality of members for supportingbobbins containing reinforcing elements, the combination including anoncircular mandrel for feeding the` sheet material past a station forapplying reinforcing elements to the sheet ma- Vterial, and-means forwithdrawing' the reinforcing elelar rate of speed. Y

ments from the bobbins at a substantially uniform rate of speed andwrapping the reinforcing elements upon the sheet material at anirregular rate of speed, said means including a plurality of arms eachprovided with an eye through which a reinforcing element passes, andmeans for actuating said arms so as to change the distance through whichthe reinforcing elements pass to thereby cause the withdrawal of thereinforcing elements from the bobbins at a uniform rate of speed and toapply the reinforcing elements to the sheet material at an irregu- 7. Ina device for reinforcing sheet material, said device having a rotatablesupport provided with a plurality Y of members for supporting bobbinscontaining reinforcing elements, the combination including an ovalmandrel for feeding two sheets of material past a station for applyingreinforcing elements to the sheet material7 and means for withdrawingthe reinforcing elements from the bobbins at a uniform rate of speed andwrapping the reinforcing elements upon the sheet material at anirregular rate of speed, said means including a plurality of arms eachprovided with an eye .through which the reinforcing elements pass, aVstationary cam concentrically mounted with respect to said rotatablesupport, a plurality of cam followers, one for each of the arms, saidcam followersbeing mounted for contact with said cam, and means forinterconnecting the cam followers to said arms so as to cause the armsto move through paths to thereby change the paths vof the reinforcingelements passing from the bobbins to the sheet material.

8. In a device for use in reinforcing sheet material, said device havinga rotatable support provided with a plurality of members for supportingbobbins containing reinforcing elements, Vthe combination including anon-circular mandrel for feeding the sheet material past a station forapplying reinforcing elements to the sheet material, and means forwithdrawing the reinforcing elements from the bobbins at a substantiallyuniform rate of speed and wrapping the reinforcing elements upon thesheet material at an irregular rate of speed, said means including aplurality of tubular members one for each of the bobbins, said tubularmembers being mounted upon the rotatable support, rods mounted forreciprocatory movement in said tubular members, there being one rod foreach tubular member, each of the rods terminating in an eye throughwhich a reinforcing element passes while being advanced from the bobbinto the station for applying the reinforcing elements, and means foractuating the arms so as to change the path through which thereinforcing elements pass from the bobbins to said station to therebycause the reinforcing elements to be withdrawn from the bobbins at asubstantially uniform rate of speed and applied to the sheet material atan irregu- Vlar rate of speed.

9. In a device for use in reinforcing sheet material, said device havinga rotatable support provided with a plurality of members for supportingbobbins containing reinforcing elements, the combination including anoncircular mandrel for feeding the sheet material past a station forappjying reinforcing elements to the sheet material, means forwithdrawing the reinforcing elements from the bobbins at a substantiallyuniform rate of speed and wrapping the reinforcing elements upon thesheet material at an irregular rate of speed, said means including aplurality of tubular members tixedly mounted upon said rotatablesupport, there being one tubular member for each of the bobbins, apluralityof rods mounted for reciprocatory movement inthe tubularmembers, there being one rod for each tubular member, each of the rodsterminating in an eye through which a reinforcing element n passes fromthe bobbin to said station, and means for reciprocating said rods incoordinated relation with the rate of wrapping said reinforcing elementsto compensate for the irregular rate of speed that said reinforcingelements are applied to the sheet material.

l0. In a device for use in reinforcing sheet material, said devicehaving a rotatable support provided with a plurality of members forsupporting bobbins containing reinforcing elements, the combinationincluding a noncircular mandrel for feeding the sheet material past astation for applying reinforcing elements to the sheet inaterial, meansfor withdrawing the reinforcing elements from thebobbins at asubstantially uniform rate of speed and wrapping the reinforcingelements upon the sheet material at an irregular rate of speed, saidmeans including a pluralityof tubular spindles surrounded by saidbobbins, there being one spindle for each bobbin, a plurality of rodsmounted for reciprocatory movement in the spindles, there being one rodfor each spindle, each of the rods terminating in an eye through which areinforcing element passes when extending from the bobbin to thestation, and cam means for actuating the rods so as to cause the rods tochange the paths of the reinforcing elements to thereby change thelengths of the reinforcing elements extending from the bobbins to saidstation to compensate for the irregular speed at which the reinforcingelements are applied to the sheetV material.

ll. In a device for use in reinforcing sheet material, said devicehaving a rotatable support provided with a plurality of members forsupporting bobbins containing reinforcing elements, the combinationincludingl a noncircular mandrel for feeding the sheet material past astation for applying reinforcing elements to the sheet material, meansfor withdrawing the reinforcing elements from the bobbins at asubstantially uniform rate of speed and wrapping the reinforcingelements upon the sheet material at an irregular rate of speed, saidmeans including a plurality of tubular members, one for each of thebobbins, said bobbins surrounding said tubular members, a plurality ofrods mounted for reciprocatory movement in the tubular members, therebeing one rod for each tubular member, each vof said rods terminating inan eye through which a reinforcing element passes while being advancedfrom the bobbin to the station, resilient means for actuating the rodsin one direction, and cam means for actuating the rods in the oppositedirection, said cam means cooperating with said resilient means tochange the paths of the reinforcing elements passing from the bobbins tosaid station;

l2. Apparatus for fabricating reinforced sheet material comprising abase, means on said base defining a work station, means for continuouslyfeeding a webV of sheet material through said work station, a supplysource of continuous reinforcing material, means supporting said supplysource on said base for rotation about said work station in a pathdefining a plane substantially transverse of the direction of feeding ofsaid web to cause said reinforcing material to wrap around said Vweb andto lie 1 thereon substantially transversely thereof, a containerof il oadhesive material mounted in stationary Vrelation with said base andencircling said work station, means for guidingV said reinforcingmaterial from said supply source through said adhesive container priorto contact thereof with said web to cause said reinforcing material toadhere to said web, and means supporting said guiding means for rotationwith respect to said Vbase about said work station in correlatedrelation-with said rotating supply source, said guide means extendinginto said container to cause the adhesive therein to circulate aboutsaid work station.

13. In a device for reinforcing sheet material, means for feeding thesheet material past a reinforcing station,

rotatably mounted means having a spindle for supportingl a bobbin ofreinforcmg material, means supporting said bobbin and its rotatablesupporting means for rotation around said station to unwind saidreinforcing material from said bobbin onto said sheet material, a gluepot forming a closed path encircling said station to receive said sheetmaterial therethrough and having a continuous opening encircling saidstation, means forming a stationary mounting for said glue potpreventing rotation thereof with said supporting means, said glue pothaving adhesive material therein, guide means extending through saidopening and into said adhesive material for causing the reinforcingmaterial withdrawn from the bobbin to pass through the adhesive materialin the glue pot as the bobbin is rotated about the station, and meansfor effecting rotation of said guide means about said reinforcingstation in correlated relation with said rotatably Y thereon reinforcingelements adapted to be wrapped around the sheet material as saidrotatable support is rotated,'a glue pot forming a closed pathencircling said Work s tation, means forming a stationary supportsecurlng said pot against rotation with said support but in generallyaligned relation therewith to receive said sheet material therethrough,and guide means mounted for rotation in correlated relation with saidrotatable support for guiding the reinforcing elements from said bobbinsthrough said glue pot as the rotatable support is rotated to therebycause said reinforcing elements to be coated with adhesive material insaid glue pot while advancing from said bobbins to said sheet material,said guide means extending into said glue pot for circulation thereinwith said reinforcing elements to cause adhesive material in said gluepot to circulate therein.

15. In a device for use in reinforcing sheet material traveling along apath, the combination including a rotatable support having a pluralityof bobbins mounted thereon and adapted to receive said sheet materialtherethrough, each of said bobbins containing reinforicng elementsadapted to be wrapped around said sheet material when said rotatablesupport is rotated around said path, a glue pot surrounding said path oftravel of said sheet material and having a continuous opening encirclingsaid path, means forming a stationary support securing said pot againstrotation Withsaid rotatable support, adjustably mounted guide meansmounted upon said rotatable support, said guide means having anoperative position and an inoperative position, said guide means when insaid operative position extending into said opening to guide thereinforcing elements withdrawn from said bobbins through the adhesivematerial in said glue pot as said rotatable support is rotated to causesaid reinforcing elements to be treated with adhesive material Whileadvancing from said bobbins to said sheet material, and means securingsaid guide means to said support for rotational movement thereof withinsaid glue pot to cause said adhesive material therein to circulatewithin said glue pot around said sheet material with said guide means.

16. In a device for use in reinforcing sheet material, the combinationincluding a rotatable support having a plurality of bobbins mountedthereon, means for causing said sheet material to travel through saidsupport, each of said bobbins containing reinforcing elements adapted tobe Wrapped around the sheet material when the rotatable support isrotated around the sheet material, a glue pot having a continuousopening surround-- ing the path of travel of said sheet material, meansforming a stationary support securing said pot against rotation withsaid rotatable support, adjustably mounted guide means mounted forrotation about said path, said guide means having an operative positionand an inoperative position, said guide means when in said operativeposition extending into said opening to guide the reinforcing elementswithdrawn from said bobbins to pass through the adhesive material insaid glue pot as said rotatable support is rotated to cause saidreinforcing elements to be treated with adhesive material whileadvancing from said bobbins to said sheet material, means for effectingrotation of said guide means in correlated relation with said supportfor rotational movement thereof within said glue pot to cause saidadhesive material therein to circulate within said glue pot around saidsheet material with said guide means, and means' for adjusting saidguide means from operative position into inoperative position and viceversa.

17. In a device for applying liquid to continuous length material, thecombination including means for supporting a supply of continuous lengthmaterial, means forming a work station, means for winding the continuouslength material around said work station, means forming a liquidcontainer describing a closed path surrounding the work station, saidcontainer being stationary in relation to the winding means, continuouslength opening, rotatably mounted guide means projecting through saidopening and into the liquid to guide the continuous length materialtherethrough and to cause the liquid to rotate around said Work stationwithin the stationary container.

18. A permanently stationary liquid container of a shape generated by asubstantially C-shaped generatrix moved through a horizontally disposedcircular path, the edges of the C cooperating to form a continuousopening through the closed path said opening being of less width thanthe diameter of said container and being near the top of the containeron the inside thereof.

19. In a device for use in transversely reinforcing sheet materialadvancing along a path, the combination including a rotatable supporthaving a plurality of bobbins mounted thereon, said support beingladapted to receivc said sheet material therethrough, each of saidbobbins containing reinforcing elements adapted to be wound around saidsheet material and to be adhesively bonded thereto when said rotatablesupport is rotated around said advancing sheet material, an adhesivetank with an adhesive supply therein, means forming a stationary supportsecuring said adhesive tank against rotation with said rotatablesupport, guide means for guiding the reinforcing elements Withdrawn fromsaid bobbins to the adhesive and thence to the sheet material, adhesiveapplication means for adhesively treating said elements after leavingsaid bobbins but before being Wound onto said sheet material, and meansfor rotating said guide means and said adhesive application means forrotational movement in unison with said support.

20. ln a device for use in transversely reinforcing sheet materialadvancing along a path, the combination including a rotatable supporthaving a plurality of bobbins mounted thereon in circumferentiallyspaced relation, said support being adapted to receive said sheetmaterial therethrough during the travel of the sheet material along saidpath, each said bobbin containing reinforcing elements adapted to bewound on said sheet material and to be adhesively bonded thereto whensaid rotatable support is rotated about the advancing sheet material, anadhesive tank with an adhesive supply therein stationarily mountedadjacent said support, guide means for guiding and supporting thereinforcing elements during their travel from said bobbins to the sheetmaterial, adhesive application/means associated with said adhesive tankand said guide means for adhesively treating said reinforcing elementsduring their guided and supported travel after leaving said bobbins butbefore being wound onto said sheet material, and means for rotating saidguide means and said adhesive application means in unison With saidsupport.

said container having a References Cited in the tile of this patentUNITED STATES PATENTS 928,385 Huxley July 20, 1909 1,121,793 BruckerDec. 22, 1914 1,192,017 Subers July 25, 1916 1,195,949 Harrison Aug. 22,1916 `1,195,951 Harrison Aug. 22, 1916 1,203,302 Bickett Oct. 31, 19161,341,981 Howard June 1, 1920 2,290,386 Schindler July 21, 19422,575,666 Knudson Nov. 20, 1951 2,614,054 Baisch et al. Oct. 14, 1952FOREIGN PATENTS 627,255 Great Britain Aug. 4, 1949

